Sadiron



1943. E. K. CLARK ET AL 2,333,521

SADIRON Filed March 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES: I INVENIORS E w! K. Clark and N6v. 2,v 1943. E. K. CLARK ETAL 2,333,521

' SADIRON Filed March 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet2 WITNESSES: INVENTORS 32 4% 32 14 14 Earl/ Clark and .Zoggpiz A. Hail/nan,

Nov. 2, 1943. E. K. CLARK ETAL 2,333,521

swmon- Filed March 24, 1941 s Sheets-Sheetfi INVENTORS Earl 71. Clark and ATrbRNEY A. Jo gvh Hellman Patented Nov. 2, 1943 SADIRON Earl K. Clark and Joseph Raymond Heilman, Mansfield, Ohio, assignors t Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application March 24, 1941, Serial No. 384,919

3 Claims.

Our invention'relates to sadirons, and more particularly to the thermal insulation and mechanical construction of such devices.

An object of our invention is to provide an integrally constructed handle and cover for an iron which has suflicient strength to support and carry the iron structure during normal operations thereof, and which provides an efiectiv thermal insulation therefor. Still another object of our invention is to provide a composite insulation structure for the upper portion of aniron which has sufiicient mechanical strength to permit a handle to be attached thereto.

Another object of our invention is to provide a plurality of air pockets or air spaces intermediate the iron sole-plate and the handle structo provide a hollow composite iron handle structure which has a. removable top portion permitting -the complete concealment .of attaching screws and the use of a highly artistic two color toned structure.

Other objects of our invention will either be pointed out specifically in the course of the following description of a device embodying our invention, or will be apparent from such description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are top plan and rear elevational views, respectively, of a sadiron structure embodying our invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and .2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 3; e

Fig. 5 is a top view of the sadiron structure with the handle structure removed therefrom;

Figs. 6 and! are sectional views taken along the lines VI-'VI and VII-VII, respectively, of F t Fig. 8 is a septional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 5 with the handle structure positioned thereon:

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the device embodying our invention;

Fig. 10 is a front view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures, there'is shown a sadiron structure Ill embodying a sole-plate l2, a heating element l4 associated therewith, a thermostatic structure IS, a cover plate l8 and a baflle plate spaced above and attached to the sole-plate l2, a handle structure 22 including front and rear depending portions 24 and 26, respectively, a longitudinally extending grip portion 25 including a bottom part 25a and a removable top cover portion 28, and a thermostat control knob positioned within the front depending portion 24 of the handle structure 22 and connected with the thermostatic structure l6 so as to control the operation thereof.

The sole-plate l2 comprises, in this instance, an elongated cast metallic base having the heating element l4 preferably of a sheathed type and cast within raised portions or ledges l5 which are an integral part of the sole-plate l2. The

lower surface of the sole-plate is highly polished to provide a suitable ironing surface. The soleplate I2 has two depending threaded apertures 32 therein located along a transverse axis which bisects the sole-plate structure, see Figs. 5 and 8. The sole-plate is thus adapted to receive and rigidly retain the cover plate I8 by means of suitable screws 3.4 positioned within the apertures 32, as hereinafter more fully described. It

is to be understood that while the sole-plate illustrated in the iron structure embodying our invention is formed of a cast metal with the heating element formed therein, such sole-plate may be made in any othersuitable manner.

The thermostatic structure I6 is positioned at substantially the midpoint of the sole-plate l2 and'is closely associated therewith so as to be responsive to the changes in temperature of such sole-plate in keeping with well-known practice. The thermostatic structure is electrically connected with the heating element II in a familiar" The control shaft 36 extends upwardly and I forwardly, passing through suitable apertures 42 The therand 43 in thebaflie and cover plate l8, respectively, and is journaled within a suitable bracket 60 rigidly attached to the inner portion of the front depending portion 24 of the handle (see Figs. 4 and 10). The control knob-.30 is positioned upon and slidably splined to the upper end of control shaft 36 and provides means for readily rotating such control shaft to adjust the operations of the thermostat. The control knob is positioned within an opening 3| in the rear surface of the front portion 24 of handle 22. The control knob 30,,by being located within the of the baiile plate 20 and two rivets arepositioned at the rear end of the bailie plate so as to .provide a four-point contact between the cover taching the cover plate l8 and bafiie plate 20 together, retain the baffle plate 20 slightly above the cover plate so as to provide an air pocket or rear surface of the front portion 24 is thus exposed and provides means whereby the thermostat isreadily and selectively adjustable by an operator.. With the control knob positioned within the rear surface of the front handle portion 24, such knob is readily accessible by the operator's thumb or-index-flng'er as she grasps the handle 22 during the normal operations of the iron [0, thus permitting the operator to vary the thermostat setting without changing or releasing her grip upon the handle structure This feature is more fully described and claimed in a -copending application of E. K. Clark and J. S. Wojcik, Serial No. 384,918, filed March 24, 1941,

assigned to the assignee of this application.

The thermostat I6, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is more fully described and claimed in the copending application of E. K. Clark and J. S. Wojcik hereinabove identified. However, it is to be understood that any. other suitable thermostatic device may' be used in lieu thereof.

The cover plate It comprises, in this instance,

substantially an inverted elongated cup-shaped the sole-plate in keeping with well established practices. Longitudinally extending flat portions l9 are located within the cover and are located above the ledge lit in sole-plate l2. The central portion of the cover plate, through the flat portions I9 thereof, engages the sole-plate at only two points on the raised portion or ledge air space therebetween. By having the baffle plate 28 retained above the cover plate and but a four-point contact therebetween, it follows that the passage of heat from the sole-plate 42 through the cover plate l8 to the baiiie plate 20 is held at a minimum value,

It has been found that the air pockets between the baille plate 20 and cover plate l8 and the ,cover plate I8 and sole-plate tendto lower the temperature differential between the cover plate l8, sole-plate l2 and between the bafile plate and v cover plate substantially 75 F. for'each air pocket. The total temperature differential between the baflle plate and sole-plate, due to the air spaces and small number of contacts between the component parts is substantially '150 F.

Small irregular or elliptically shaped apertures 42 and 43 are positioned within the front central portions of the baille plate 20 and the cover plate I8, respectively, to provide means for the inclined Y thermostatic control shaft 36 to pass there through, as hereinafter more fully described.

The handle structure 22 comprises, in this instance a structure having a front depending p0rtion 24 anda, rear depending portion 26 which are Joined at their upper ends by "a longitudinally extending grip portion 25 and at theirlower ends by a longitudinally outwardly and downwardly extending skirt portion 21. The parts 24, 25,26 and 21 of the handle structure are, in this instance, formed of a suitable phenolic resin into a single integral structure. However, it ,is to be understood that such structure may be formed in any other suitable manner;

i5 thereof and is rigidly attached thereto by.

means of the screws 34, which threadedly engage with the sole-plate (see Fig. 8). .Due to this two point contact, the thermal conductivity between the sole-plate and cover plate is maintained at a minimum. In addition to this minimum mechanical contact between the cover plate and the sole-plate, the cover plate 18 contacts the soleplate about its outer edges through a plurality of upwardly. extending bosses2i (seven in this in-- stance) on the sole-plate, see Figs. 3 and 4.

Accordingly, it follows that the thermal con I I duction between the sole-plate l2 and cover plate The upper longitudinally extending portion 25 of the handle 22 has a depending longitudinally extending semi-circularly grooveformed therein whilethe end portions 24 and 26 are hollowed out. The upper portion 25 of handle 22 has outwardly extending ledges 23 formed therein which receive the cover 28, as hereinafter described, This tends to make a substantially light handle structure by reducing its mass. The reduction in mass,-in addition to making a lighter handle structure, tends-to; materially reduce the thermal capacity of said iron handle and aids in keeping the temperature thereof at a minimum value. The reductionin thermal capacity is, of course, furthered by the lack of metal parts, the cover portion 28 likewise being non-metallic, as subsequently described.'

The lower or'skirt portion 21 of handle structure 22 extends outwardly fromv the depending portions 24 and 26 of the handle 22 as well as joining such end portions so as to provide a sin-- gle integral heat-insulating cover member for the upper portion of the sadiron structure. The

outer portions of the skirt 21 extend-away from the handle proper and extendfover and beyond the edges of bafflc 20 and down towards and relatively close to the flattened or ledge portions IQ of cover plate 18 (see Figs. 4 and 8). How

ever, such skirt ortion 21 doesnot engage or contact the cover plate l8 so as to provide a path for heat conduction therebetween. The skirt portion 21, in addition to extending outwardly from the main handle portion 22, joins the inner edges of the depending end portions 24 and 26 so as to provide an additional or third air pocket or space above the sole-plate l2. This'third air space is above the baflie plate 20 and tends to reduce the temperature radiated upwardly to the handle structure from said baffie plate. The amount of reduction in temperature between the baflie plate and upper exposed surface of the handle skirt 21 has been found a to be substantially 150, It is, therefore, obvious that by having the skirt portion 21 positioned above the baffle plate and cover plate l8, an additional heat barrier is provided above the sole-plate l2 which further prevents the upward. radiation and conduction of heat from the sole-plate towards an operator's hand which grasps the grip portion of handle 22.

The handle structure 22 is, in this instance, rigidly attached to the baffle plate 20 at only one end thereof, namely, by means of the rear washers 41, preferably of asbestos, are positioned intermediate the handle 22 and the baffie plate 20 to further limit the conductivity of heat into the handle structure.

The handle structure22 is movably attached .to the baffle plate 20, at the front end thereof, by means of the front end portion 24 of the handle structure 22, A notched or slotted aperportion 28- to the handle 22, as hereinafter described.

The removable top cover portion 28 of handle structure 22 comprises, in this instance, an elongated relatively thin flexible or resilient inverted channel-shaped member which is constructed to fit within the upper edge of the handle 22. The top cover 28 is preferably made of a translucent phenolic material or the like, such as Plascon, for example, so as to permit the designer of the iron structure to use a two-tone or double-color effect. The removable cover 28 has depending side portions 29 which fit within the upwardly extending hollowed portion of handle 22 resting upon the ledges 23 thereof and extends thereabove (see Figs. '4 and 8). A set screw 56 extends upwardly into the front end of the cover 28. This set screw 56 cooperates with the irregular shaped bracket 52 by sliding within the slot 55 therein.

Accordingly the front end of cover 28 is attached to the front end portion of handle structure 22 without exposing any attaching means. The cover portion 28 has a transverse section slightly greater than that of the grooved portion 25 of handle 22 whereby the cover must-be forced downwardly into the handle 22. The rear end of cover 28 is rigidly attached to the handle 22 by means of a suitable screw 58 which extends up wardly through the rear portion 26 of handle 22 (see Fig. 4). The screw 58 is only accessible from the bottom portion of the iron so as to provide a symmetrical design of the iron structure ture 46 (see Fig. 11) is positioned within the inhowever, without rigidly attaching the front end portion of the handle to the baflle plate. It therefore, follows that, due to the resilient connection between handle 22 and baffle plate 20, the front end portion 24 of handle 22 is free to move with respect to the bafile plate 20. Accordingly, the handle 22 is free to expand and contract, due to changes in temperature thereof,

without any binding action between'said handle and baflle plate 2|]. An insulating washer 41a is also positioned intermediate the handle structure 22 and baffle plate 20 to reduce the heat conduction therebetween. 1

An irregular-shaped bracket 52 is rigidly attached to the leading or front end of the front end portion 24 of the handle 22 by means of a suitable screw 54. A slot 55. is positioned'within the, upper portion of the bracket 52 (see Fig. 9). The bracket 52 is then used to provide means for attaching the front end of the removable top cover without any exposed attaching screws or the like. The removable cover 28 by fitting over the handle 22 covers up the screw 48 which is used to attach the front portion of the handle to the baffle plate, as well as the openings in each end portion of the handle 22. This structure, in turn, prevents the handle 22 from being removed from the iron structure without first removing the cover portion, and provides a pleasing exterior for said handle. In addition, the cover portion 28 covers the upper end of the thermostat adjusting shaft 36 and supporting bracket 50 positioned within the front portion 24 of th handle a well as covering up the terminal structure and miscellaneous screws, etc., in the rear portion 26 of the handle.

During the operation of the sadiron structure embodying ourginvention, the sole-plate may increase to substantially 500. F, in keeping with' established practice. However, the air space 'be-.

tween the cover plate l8 and such sole-plate tends to limit the upward radiation of heat from the sole-plate. The conduction of heat from the sole- 1 plate. is definitely limited due to the two-point attachment between the cover plate and the sole- Plate and due to the limited amount of contact between the outer edge of the cover plate I and the sole-plate. Accordingly, the temperature of the upper portion of the cover plate I8 is materially reduced with respect to that of the soleplate l2. Due to the four-point contact or suspension of the baffle plate 20 upon and above the 5 cover plate [8 a second air pocket is provided which, further reduce the temperature above they sole-plate. These air pockets tend to prevent any direct radiation of heat upwardly, thus materially reducing the temperature of the baflie plate beneath that of the cov'erplate. The temperature of the battle plate is. therefore, substantially below thatoi' the cover plate. I1

The restriction of heat passage upwardly-from stantially below that of the sole-plate.

sole-plate, such handle, structure receives only a small amount of heat from the sole-plate. This heat is, however, readily dissipated from the handle structure due to its composition and its light mass. Accordingly, it follows that the temperature of the handle and its associated parts, which are close to the-operator's hand, are sub- In fact, it has been observed that the actual temperature' drop between the sole-plate and the upper surface of the skirt portion 21, during the high heat operation of the iron, when the temperature of the sole-plate is substantially 500 E, is substantially 300 F. A relatively cool handle struc-' ture is, therefore, provided which may readily expand and contract with respect to the soleplate, by reason of the above-described resilient connection including screw 48 and "spring 50 located at the front of the handle.

In addition, by having the upper removable cover portion of the handle removable from the handle structure, it becomes possible to attach such handle structure to the main portion of the iron by means of suitable screws hereinabove described without having such screws exposed. Likewise, said cover plate provides a medium for greater artistic treatment of the sadiron structure.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying our invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and we desire,

therefore, that only such limitations shall'be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

We claim as our inven on: 1. In a sadiron, a sole-p ate, a heating element therefor, a thermostat positioned upon the soleplate for selectively operating the heating element, a baffle plate positioned above said sole- I plate, a handle structure embodying a hollowed front depending portion, a thermostat adjusting knob positioned within the rear surface of and extending into said depending portion, a rearwardly and downwardly extending shaft connecting said knob with the thermostat, and means positioned within the hollowed front depending portion of the handle for retaining the upper end of the shaft and the knob in cooperative engagement, said front handle portion being resiliently attached to the baffle plate to permit relative movement between said plate and handle.

2. In a sadiron, a sole-plate, a cover plate rigidly attached to the sole-plate, a continuously hollow handle structure embodying a front vertically hollow depending portion, a rear vertically hollow depending portion and a longitudinally extending horizontally hollow grip portion, said grip portion comprising a trough-like lower portion and a removable cover therefor having its front and rear ends forming parts of said front and rear portions, means extending into the hollow of said rear portion for rigidly attaching said rear portion to the cover plate, means extending into the hollow of said front portion for loosely attaching said front portion to the cover plate, and means comprising said removable cover for concealing both of said attaching means.

3. In a sadiron, a sole-plate, a cover plate rigidly attached to the sole-plate, a continuously hollow handle structure embodying a front vertically hollow depending portion, a rear vertically hollow depending portion and a longitudinally extending horizontally hollow grip portion, said grip portion comprising a trough-like lower portion and a removable cover' therefor having its front and rear ends forming parts of, said front and rear portions, means respectively extending into the hollows of said front and rear portions for attaching the handle structure to the cover plate near the front end and the rear end thereof, means comprising said removable cover for concealing both of the attaching means, and means extending within the front and rear ends of said cover for concealedly attaching the same to said handle structure.

EARL K. CLARK. JOSEPH RAYMOND HEILMANM 

